Family tragedy shocks America after father kills five children

Euronews

Mississippi police thought they just had a case of a drunken and drugged driver when they arrested 32-year-old Timothy Ray Jones Jr.

But they were stunned when, in custody, he admitted to killing his five children. An investigation of his car revealed drug reagents, bleach, hydrochloric acid, and blood.

He then led police to neighbouring Alabama where he confessed to dumping the bodies of his family, aged between one and eight.

“I’ve lived here for over six years and from the time he moved in it was nothing but trouble with him and his wife. Their kids were always walking around filthy, I think they were wearing the same clothes. I talked to social services about them but they didn’t do anything,” said neighbour Johnny Hyder.

All the children’s bodies bore signs of violence. Their mother, who shared custody with Ray Jones, reported them missing on September 3, and had complained several times to social services that her ex-husband, described as a reclusive computer genius, was difficult to contact.